BMIHMS AT TORRENS UNIVERSITY TO LAUNCH FULLY OPERATIONAL HOTEL RUN BY STUDENTS

The Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) at Torrens University has officially joined with the Waldorf Leura Gardens Resort to commence operation of what is expected to become the only student-run hotel currently operating in Australia, and one of only a few operating worldwide.

The Waldorf Leura Gardens Resort is a 3.5-star hotel located in the heart of the Blue Mountains and directly adjacent to the BMIHMS Leura Campus. BMIHMS’ Leura Campus is currently operated as a simulated hotel environment, with some students both living and undertaking their applied learning and training on campus. This new relationship will see the hotel being operated by BMIHMS students over the coming months, as they undertake some of their practical learning (including food and beverage training, housekeeping and event management) at the hotel.

The partnership will also allow BMIHMS to increase its campus-managed accommodation, with a number of the hotel rooms being allocated to the growing student population moving forward.

Laureate Australia & New Zealand General Manager Hospitality, Jerome Casteigt, said he was delighted with the partnership and is looking forward to the next phase in BMIHMS’ growth.

“Thanks to this collaboration, we will now be able to provide our students with a unique learning environment looking after real life guests within an operating hotel. They will be dealing with guests, working on events held at the hotel, such as weddings and conferences, and they will also have the opportunity to manage projects within the hotel, under guidance from applied lecturers and department managers. Students will eventually be operating in all areas of the hotel,” he said.

It is also expected that the relationship will further enhance the already stellar graduate employability figures BMIHMS is known for.

“Currently BMIHMS students are highly sought after within the industry and our most recent alumni survey indicates that over 95% of our students receive job offers on or before graduation.”

“The unique opportunity to undertake their training within a fully operational hotel will be invaluable for our students and will almost certainly increase their employability as they prepare to graduate and enter the workforce. We’re unbelievably excited for the opportunities this collaboration will bring for them,“ he said.

“I see this as a very exciting time for existing staff, as this new alignment with BMIHMS will introduce a number of excellent educational and professional development opportunities that come with working for the number one hotel management school in Australia and Asia Pacific.”